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See You at IBS 2013

To position your company for success as the market rebounds, do yourself a favor and attend the International Builders’ Show.

The home building environment is very different today than it was just a few years ago.

In the wake of the Great Recession, home builders and associates are dealing with vastly different market conditions, customer expectations, and resources. There’s no better guide for navigating this new marketplace than the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS), which occurs Jan. 22 – 24, 2013, in Las Vegas. The show includes three value-packed days that will provide a year’s worth of inspiration and innovative ideas.

Our industry’s single best way to build opportunity, knowledge, and connections, the IBS retains the features that have made it an industry institution for decades. At the same time, many offerings have been thoughtfully transformed to better meet our industry’s needs in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace.

In particular, the education programs have been completely revamped to better meet attendees’ needs. The NAHB trimmed the number of programs from 165 to just under 100, selecting only the very best from hundreds of proposals. The 2013 IBS offers more advanced-level programs in addition to three intensive, full-day “master sessions” that explore specific topics.

A paid full registration for the show also includes a complimentary one-year subscription to NAHB’s online library of recorded IBS education sessions.

Daily keynote sessions are part of the education offerings at the show. Michael Eisner, former chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Co., will be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies. The Wednesday keynote program will be a panel discussion on adapting to the new-home building environment, and Thursday’s keynote speaker will be David Pogue, technology columnist for The New York Times. All keynote sessions will be held in the South Hall.

The exhibit floor once again will be the focal point of the show as hundreds of manufacturers and suppliers display their products and services across the multi-acre exhibit space. New to the exhibit floor this year is the 19th Hole, featuring high-definition golf. Be sure to stop by for some fun and relaxation as well as a special drawing.

The Centrals—areas dedicated to providing networking opportunities and lively, informative programs—are another IBS feature open to all attendees. They focus on housing for the 50-plus market, multifamily construction, custom building, remodeling, sales, and home design. Each Central also will host a specialized product tour.

IBS Live!, which made its debut at the 2012 IBS, will return to the show floor with short information and entertainment programs.

Now under construction in a nearby community, the innovative New American Home 2013 will showcase products and techniques that builders can use in their own markets. Closer to the convention center, several demonstration homes that attendees can tour will be constructed in the outdoor exhibit space.

Rounding out the IBS offerings will be numerous networking opportunities including the IBS House Party on Jan. 22 at the Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas and the Spike & Directors Concert on Jan. 24, which is the IBS closing event.

I can’t list all of the features of the IBS here, but I can say with a great deal of certainty that there’s no better way to position your company for success as the market rebounds than by attending the IBS. For more information, visit www.BuildersShow.com, and be sure to check out the pre-show planner that appears in this issue of Builder (p. 65).

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